The expected failure of the provincial government and the municipal government of Virac to win their third straight Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) for the coveted grand slam should not have happened.

The key factor is the disappointing performance of the administration of Mayor Samuel Laynes in implementing projects funded by the Special Education Fund (SEF), in which the town only completed 32 percent of its projects, according to the DILG provincial office.

Much of the blame cannot be shouldered by the chief executive alone. Generally, the preparation of the list of projects and program of works rests with the Local School Board chaired by the mayor and composed of the district supervisors, teachers’ and non-teachers’ associations representatives and PTA federation president.

The problem begins with the late submission of the list of projects and materials needed at the district schools, compounded by the different prices used in the estimates. Not all schools are equidistant from the poblacion and thus hauling costs have to be considered for those located in outlying areas such as Dugui. As a result, the engineering office and the supply office have to re-compute the individual project costs and consult the schools in case some items have to be deleted.

By the time the corrected estimates are approved and submitted for bidding, a lot of time has passed, resulting in the delay in the delivery of materials and actual implementation.

Perhaps, the victory of retired CNHS principal Rudy Tolentino as barangay captain of San Isidro Village is a blessing in disguise.

Should he be given the opportunity of being elected president of the Liga ng mga Barangay municipal federation, he would have the chance of reviewing the different processes involved in the utilization of the SEF by the Local School Board.

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As I was finishing this column, a group of people were staging a rally outside FICELCO headquarters purportedly against the rotational brownouts being implemented as a result of the breakdown of SUWECO and NPC gensets.

Most likely, the protesters are of the hired variety and intended to put pressure on the FICELCO board to decide in favor of a proposal to install diesel gensets at its Marinawa compound without any prior agreement

The BOD majority is apprehensive of making any move under the 2nd amendment of the SUWECO Electricity Supply Agreement (ESA) under which the proposed new gensets are said to be covered, after the National Electrification Administration (NEA) issued an adverse finding on the issue last year.

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Summer festival goers are invited to witness the San-Flor (Santacruzan-Flores de Mayo) to be held this Sunday, May 27, at barangay Bigaa in Virac.

The first such event in the village in recent years, it is being sponsored by the Barangay Pastoral Council with the guidance of Rev. Fr. Orlando Gianan Tatel, who has resided in the barangay since he went home from the United States.

The San-Flor begins with a Mass at the Bigaa chapel at 9 A.M. after which the 20 or so beautiful “sagalas” will be crowned. The procession commences at 6 P.M. from West Garden Homes Phase 2, passing through Phase 1 and then proceeding through the national road towards the barangay proper before ending at the plaza where a public dance would be held.

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A PROBLEM WITH FARTING. An old man goes to the doctor and says, “Doctor, I have this problem with farting, but it doesn’t really bother me too much. They never smell and are always silent. As a matter of fact, I’ve farted at least 20 times since I’ve been here in your office. You didn’t know I was passing gas, you see, because, as I say, they’re odorless and noiseless.”

The doctor says, “I see. Take these pills and come back to see me next week.”

The next week the man goes back.

“Doctor,” he says, “I don’t know what the heck you gave me, but now when I fart they’re still silent but they stink terribly.”

“Good,” the doctor said, “Now that we’ve cleared up your sinuses, lets get to work on your hearing.”